The Cartersville Hurricanes rallied for a pair of wins Thursday night at the Hoover, Alabama Perfect Game High School Showdown, but magic wasn’t there Friday night in a 5-0 loss to Hartselle (Ala.). The Tigers scored three times in the third inning and added two more runs in the fourth as they improved to 7-3 on the year. Meanwhile, pitcher Colby Widner kept Cartersville off the scoreboard while scattering three hits and three walks. The junior southpaw struck out ten. Cartersville starting pitcher Mason McBee (3 IP, 3R, 2ER, 4H, 1BB, 4K) suffered the loss. Silas Freeman (1 IP, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 1K) and Phillip Schiltz (3 IP, 0R, 2BB, 1K) pitched for the Canes. Brodie Morrow led Harselle’s offense with two hits that included a double and three RBI. Cartersville (7-4) will wrap up play in the Showdown Saturday. PAULDING COUNTY 4, WOODLAND 2 Hunter Gulledge doubled home two runs in the top of the thirteenth inning Friday night to lift Paulding County to a 4-2 win at Woodland. The Patriots’ win earned a split in the Region 7-AAAAA two-game series. Woodland won Wednesday night in nine innings, 2-0, in a game played at LakePoint. Woodland took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on a Dallas Adams RBI single and an infield error by Paulding County. The Patriots scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to send the game to extra innings. Both Paulding County runs scored on Wildcats’ errors. Paulding County out hit Woodland 15 to four. Colin Hynek and Marco Lopez had three hits each for the Patriots. Hunter Gulledge (2 RBI), Robbie Reeves, Jacob Harper, and Josh Rhea contributed two hits apiece. Adams had two hits for Woodland. Carter Heath and Phoenix Cramer added one hit each. Phoenix Cramer (1 IP, 2ER, 3H, 2K), the fourth and final pitcher utilized by the Wildcats, suffered the pitching loss for Woodland. Peyton Posey (6 IP, 1ER, 4H, 3BB, 6K) started on the mound. Heath (1.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 1K) and Trent Porter (4.1 IP, 0R, 6H, 1BB, 3K) worked the middle innings relief. Woodland (5-5, 1-1) is scheduled to play a non-region game at Kennesaw Mountain Saturday at 12 noon and has a region, two-game series with Rome Monday and Wednesday starting at the Wolves’ home field Monday at 5:55 p.m. ARMUCHEE 9, ADAIRSVILLE 4 The Adairsville Tigers out hit Armuchee Friday night at LakePoint in a non-region game, but came up short on the scoreboard falling to the Indians 9-4. Adairsville finished with seven hits to six by Armuchee, but the Indians built a 9-0 lead through five innings and held on to hand Adairsville a sixth-straight loss. The Tigers posted four runs in the sixth inning on a walk, an error, three hits, and a passed ball. Wade Conduff, Logan Hunt, and Tyler Driggers each had singles in the frame. Conduff had three hits in the game. Kyler Smith and Braden Powell also had hits in the game for Adairsville. Powell (4.2 IP, 7R, 4ER, 3H, 3BB, 4K) started on the mound for the Tigers and was tagged with the loss. Wade Dooley (1.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 3H, 1BB, 2K) and Elijah Padgett (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 3K) also pitched for Adairsville. Brantson Duck and Canyon Painter paced the Indians’ offense with two RBI each as Armuchee improved to 5-4 with their win. Adairsville (2-7) begins Region 6-AAA play next Thursday and Friday with games at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and at home against Calhoun. Both games are scheduled for 5:55 p.m. starts.

The Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department’s 10U girls basketball team lost its preliminary game Friday night to Savannah, 41-38. The contest was the team’s opener in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) State Tournament at Edwards Park in Dalton. Bartow 10U will now move into single-elimination bracket play Saturday morning at 9 a.m. where they will play Rome. In Friday’s loss, Bartow led 9-6 after one quarter, but trailed by halftime 16-11. Savannah also led 27-21 after three quarters. Mariah Reid scored 35 points for Savannah. Jabryanna Harris scored 16 points for Bartow 10U. Rakhia Pace followed with nine. Ella Rogers contributed seven and Lakiaya Banks scored six points for the locals. Local youth and adult recreation basketball results provided by the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department and the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department. Information also provided by the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association. Game results on Bartow Sports Zone presented by Trophy Showroom.

The Woodland tennis teams defeated Cass Friday evening in Region 7-AAAAA action at Woodland High School. WOODLAND GIRLS 4, CASS 1 Singles Line 1 — Becky Wesley (W) d. Payton Tatusko, 6-3, 6-3 Line 2 — Kayla Gales (W) d. Carlie Rediger, 6-1, 6-4 Line 3 — McKenley King (C) d. Abby Cates, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Doubles Line 1 — Eryn Gentry / Emma Savage (W) d. Kristina Bennett / Adriana Segura, 6-0, 6-1 Line 2 — Monterya Morrow / Abby Spaulding (W) d. Sydney Coppola / Layla Hall, 6-1, 6-1 WOODLAND BOYS 5, CASS 0 Singles Line 1 — Bryce Van Order (W) d. Peyton Patterson, 6-0, 6-0 Line 2 — Connor Gunnell (W) d. Seth Herring, 6-0, 6-0 Line 3 — Adam Pirkle (W) d. Andrew Zeimer, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 Doubles Line 1 — Mason Tucker / Garrett Wesley (W) d. Dawson Hedden / Tyler Martin, 6-1, 7-6 Line 2 — Ian Van Order / Keagan Gallagler (W) d. Brian Wickenster / Dillon Mont, 6-3, 6-2 The Woodland girls improved to 2-3 on the season. The Woodland boys are now 3-2. Woodland will host Kell Tuesday and play at Cartersville Wednesday.

Participating in The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida, the Georgia Highlands College softball team opened with a pair of one-sided wins Friday afternoon over teams from Michigan. The Chargers defeated Delta College 10-0 and Muskegon College 9-1. Madalyn Morton (6 IP, 0R, 2H, 3BB, 7K) tossed the complete game shutout in the Chargers’ opener. Maggie Shandera (4 IP, 1ER, 5H, 1BB, 4K) was the starter and winner in the second game. Montana Ledbetter (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 2K) also worked an inning in the circle for GHC. The Chargers banged out 15 hits in the win over Delta College. Lacey Rutledge had four doubles and one RBI in four trips to the plate. Izzy Marcotte had three hits including a double, home run, and four RBI. Hailey Cronic added two hits including a home run and three RBI. In the win over Muskegon, eight of nine in the Georgia Highlands’ batting order had at least one hit. Rutledge had a pair of hits including a double and one RBI. Natalia Herrera and Cronic also doubled. Deyonce Lewis contributed a triple for the Chargers. Georgia Highlands (9-10) plays Mercyhurst Northeast (Pa.) Saturday at 1:45 p.m. and another opponent to be determined in the round robin format. The Chargers will wrap up play in Clermont Sunday with games against Alpena CC (Mich.) and Cuyahoga CC (Ohio).

The Cartersville Hurricanes rallied for a come-from-behind win over Helena (Ala.) and took down the 2nd-ranked team in Georgia’s Class 6A Thursday evening in a pair of victories at the 8th annual Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover, Alabama. Cartersville defeated Houston County (Ga.) in the first game 5-1 and topped Helena (Ala.) 8-6. In the win over Helena, the Canes trailed 4-0 through the first four innings before scoring eight times over the next three frames. Cartersville tied the game 4-4 in the top of the fifth and took an 8-4 advantage in the top of the seventh. The Huskies challenged with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Canes’ pitcher Davis Williams was able to end the threat with a groundout to shortstop Josh Davis. Silas Freeman (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 1K) picked up the pitching win for Cartersville in relief of starter Hayden Davidson (4 IP, 4R, 3ER, 3H, 3BB, 6K). Davis Williams (1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 1K) worked the final frame for the Canes on the mound. Tyler Williamson had two hits including a double and two RBI for Cartersville. Curt Bonner also had a pair of hits and one RBI. Parker McPherson (double, 2 RBI), Jack Carter, and Drew Rothschild had the other Canes’ hits. CARTERSVILLE 5, HOUSTON COUNTY 1 In the opening game played at Mountain Brook High School, Cartersville got outstanding pitching from starter Micah Earwood and closer Davis Williams then took advantage of eight walks, a hit batsman, and five errors by Georgia Class 6A second-ranked Houston County for a 5-1 win. Earwood (6 IP, 1R, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 9K) went six strong innings on the mound for the win and struck out nine. Williams (1 IP, 1K) needed only seven pitches and struck out one in a spotless seventh inning to close out the victory. The Canes scored twice in the first inning, two more in the second inning, and added a run in the third. The only Bears run was scored in the fifth inning. Jaden Woods had a two-hit game and stole a base for Houston County. The Bears slipped to 5-4 for the season. Josh Davis and Elliott Eastin had the two Cartersville base hits. Williams drove in a run in the third inning with a bases loaded walk. The Hurricanes (7-3) have now won six straight and will start bracket play in the Hoover tournament Friday night at 8:30 p.m. Their opponent to be determined by pool play Thursday night and earlier on Friday.

For the 65th year, Cartersville Little League will kick off its new season this weekend with a variety of activities and 2020 Opening Day Ceremonies. The year gets started Friday night with a family dinner and continues with skills competitions for players and a dad’s home run derby. There will be a bouncy slide and obstacle course for children to enjoy on one of the fields and each of the teams will raffle off team gift baskets as an additional fund raiser. Saturday, the Opening Day Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. with players asked to line up at Rudy York Field beginning at 9:30 a.m. The public is invited to come out and enjoy all the activities and support Cartersville Little League. Little League results are provided to Bartow Sports Zone by Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League. The game data is shared by the leagues via GameChanger reports from the respective teams and/or leagues. GRPA tournament team results are also provided by the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department and the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department or the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association. Results and capsules are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports and CiCi's - Beyond Pizza, both located in the Cartersville Main Street - Cherokee Place Shopping Center.

It was a difficult weather night for all teams in action but the evening saw the Woodland and Adairsville girls play to a 1-1 draw while the Cartersville girls dropped a 3-0 decision at North Paulding. WOODLAND GIRLS 1, ADAIRSVILLE 1 The Woodland and Adairsville girls played to a 1-1 tie Wednesday night during rainy conditions with both goals coming in the second half. Tiera Feanny scored for Woodland in the first four minutes of the second half to break a 0-0 tie. Adairsville (6-0-1) answered with a tying goal with approximately 15 minutes remaining. The Lady Tigers return to Region 6-AAA play next week and hosts Coahulla Creek on Tuesday. Woodland (0-2-1) plays at Cass Friday. WOODLAND BOYS 5, ADAIRSVILLE 1 The Woodland boys pulled away from Adairsville for a 5-1 win in non-region play Wednesday night at Wildcat Stadium. Woodland led 2-1 at halftime before outscoring the visitors 3-0 in the second half. NORTH PAULDING 3, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 0 In a game that was moved to North Paulding and the Wolfpack's sports turf playing surface due to recent rains, North Paulding posted a trio of second half goals to defeat the Lady Canes Wednesday night, 3-0. Cartersville head coach Chad Murray described the opening goal for the Wolfpack as a pinball play from a corner kick. He added that the second and third goals for North Paulding were the result of his Lady Canes’ defensive mistakes. “We haven’t been able to get on a field and practice due to the recent rains,” said a frustrated Murray Wednesday night. “Our touch was off and our passes looked like we haven’t played in a while because we haven’t been able to get on a field. I’m proud of the girls and their effort. We just need some practice time.”

It took nine innings Wednesday night, but the Woodland Wildcats started their 2020 Region 7-AAAAA campaign on the right foot with a 2-0 win over Paulding County at LakePoint. Starting pitchers Scotty Smith (6 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 12K) of Woodland and Tanner Bastings (5.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 3BB, 9K) of Paulding battled scoreless into the sixth inning. Robbie Reeves (3.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 3BB, 7K) of the Patriots ultimately suffered the loss in relief. Woodland’s Trent Porter (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 2BB, 1K) picked up the pitching win by working the final three frames for the Wildcats. Peyton Posey drove in the game-winning runs in the top of the ninth with a two-run, two-out triple. Trent Porter walked with one out in the inning and his courtesy runner Fisher Davis scored. Jakiyon Porter had also walked in front of Posey and scored. Phoenix Cramer had the other two hits for Woodland in the game including a sixth inning double. Cramer, Posey, and Zach Wilson stole one base each in the contest. Reeves (double), Mason Tanner, and Colin Hynek had the Paulding County base hits. The loss drops the Patriots to 9-2 overall and 0-1 in Region 7-AAAAA. Woodland improved to 5-4 on the season and 1-0 in region play. The two teams will complete their two-game series Friday at Woodland.

The Woodland girls soccer team defeated Region 7-AAAAA opponent Kell Tuesday night 2-0 with a pair of late goals off the foot of Grace Webb. Webb broke open a scoreless game with only 16 minutes remaining. He second tally came with just under six minutes remaining. Lady Cats’ goalkeeper Chloe Ravish finished with 13 saves in the Woodland victory. Woodland (1-2, 1-1) hosts Adairsville Wednesday afternoon.

The Woodland boys tennis team made quick and easy work of East Paulding Tuesday evening in a 5-0 Region 7-AAAAA win. The Wildcats swept the three singles lines without dropping a game and the Raiders forfeited the two doubles lines. WOODLAND BOYS 5, EAST PAULDING 0 Singles Line 1 — Bryce VanOrder won 6-0, 6-0 Line 2 — Connor Gunnell won 6-0, 6-0 Line 3 — Adam Pirkle won 6-0, 6-0 Doubles East Paulding forfeited both doubles lines.

The Adairsville Tigers dropped their fifth straight game Tuesday night with a 4-2 loss to LaFayette in a Tigers' home game moved to LakePoint in Emerson. The Ramblers scored single runs in the first two frames before the Tigers narrowed the margin to 2-1 in the third inning. LaFayette went up 3-1 in the fourth inning and added a run in the seventh. Adairsville added a single run in the final inning. Trent Currie (3 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 1K) picked up the pitching win for LaFayette in his start. The Ramblers utilized three more pitchers with Dylan Deering (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 3BB, 4K) closing out the final two frames. Adairsville’s Jack Whitley (6.2 IP, 4R, 2ER, 9H, 2BB, 6K) was tagged with the pitching loss. Brendon Carroll (0.1 IP) struck out one batter. Davis Richardson and Nick Adams led the Ramblers with two hits each. Evan Sanders had two hits for Adairsville. Tyler Driggers (double), Wade Conduff (triple), and Evan Henry (triple) had the other Tigers’ hits. Adairsville (2-6) plays Armuchee at home Friday in a final tune-up before Region 6-AAA action begins next week.

The Northwest Georgia Tip Off Club held its 34th annual basketball banquet Tuesday night in the Krannert Center Ballroom on the campus of Berry College with several local players receiving recognition. The annual event precedes the organization’s 6th annual Senior All-Star Games which will take place March 12 at the Georgia Highlands College Rome campus. The girls game is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the boys game to follow. PHOTOS: Top left: Woodland's Jordan Thompson and Carli Clymer. Top right: Cartersville's Naijah Evans, Cio Seigler, and Ariana Cochran. Bottom left: Woodland coach Jacob Selman and KJ Rogers. Bottom right: Ariana Hames, Londaisha Smith, and Claire Davis of Cass. The following locals were recognized: ADAIRSVILLE Lexie Childers - December Player of the Month Malachi Gardner - December Player of the Month Alexa Varner - January Player of the Month Jaxon Welchel - January Player of the Month Ji’Leyah Mitchell — Player of the Year Savaun Henderson — Player of the Year CARTERSVILLE Naijah Evans - December Player of the Month Kam Callahan - December Player of the Month Cio Seigler - January Player of the Month Micah Tart - January Player of the Month Ariana Cochran — Player of the Year Kolbe Benham — Player of the Year CASS Ariana Hames - December Player of the Month Braxton Benham - December Player of the Month Londaisha Smith - January Player of the Month Jordan Ford - January Player of the Month Claire Davis — Player of the Year Zaylan Chaney — Player of the Year EXCEL CHRISTIAN Kalil Holley — December Player of the Month Rashard Doyal — January Player of the Month Rayshawn Womack — Player of the Year WOODLAND Jordan Thompson - December Player of the Month DiAnthony Heathcock - December Player of the Month Carli Clymer - January Player of the Month KJ Rogers - January Player of the Month Jordan Thompson — Player of the Year DiAnthony Heathcock — Player of the Year